Pa. Lawmaker Wants To Expand Film Tax Credit

Film production trailers near 5th and Chestnut Streets in Old City. (Credit: John McDevitt)

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) — The majority leader of the state Senate says in the coming days, he will introduce legislation to expand Pennsylvania’s film tax credit.

The Pennsylvania film tax credit is currently capped at $60 million. Erik Arneson is a spokesman for Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader. Arneson says his boss wants to uncap the film tax credit. He says the Independent Fiscal Office, created by lawmakers to provide non-partisan financial projections, estimates that uncapping the tax credit would cause it to double or triple.

“They believe that with the other restrictions that are in there that the usage would eventually get up to between $120 and $180 million. But technically, that’s right, there would be no cap.”

Arneson says one of the primary goals is to lure “multi-year” video productions.

“Which under the current structure are very difficult to bring to Pennsylvania. And of course, the multi-year production is going to have a steadier employment base, steadier economic activity that gets generated.”

The proposal would also provide tax credits for video game productions.